Security Briefing
- Need for Air Marshals Causing Border Patrol Shortage
- Bush Says Stopping Terror Key to Boosting Economy
- Davis Wants Open Border, But Tight Security
- USPS Says Thousands of Letters May Have Anthrax Traces
- Ashcroft Announces Counterrorism Deal With Canada
- Indiana Conducts Surprise Truck Checks
- IBA Begins Sanitizing Truckloads of Mail
- House Approves Insurance Plan
- Radiation Could Damage Some Mail
- Bush Says Stopping Terror Key to Boosting Economy
Need for Air Marshals Causing Border Patrol Shortage
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, a number of U.S. Border Patrol agents have resigned to become air marshals, raising some concern that the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders will be left with inexperienced guards.The Washington Post reported Dec. 1 that in San Diego, home to one of the Border Patrol's largest divisions, some veteran agents are being forced to work overtime often and to cancel or postpone leave time to help fill new holes in staffing.
Even before the attacks, the Border Patrol was having trouble recruiting and retaining agents, the article said. The agency has been under ordered to add 1,000 agents a year but has not found enough qualified applicants to meet that mandate in the past two years. Transport Topics
Bush Says Stopping Terror Key to Boosting Economy
President Bush, speaking at a town hall meeting in Florida on Dec. 4, said that guarding against future terrorist attacks is key to fostering economic growth, news services reported.
Bush said that any stimulus package must include provisions for job creation, which he called a key part of his plan to jump start the economy, Reuters reported.
The president also encouraged people to travel in an effort to boost the flagging tourism industry of Florida and other regions of the country, Reuters said. Transport Topics
Davis Wants Open Border, But Tight Security
California Gov. Gray Davis pressed Vicente Fox for a more open border, while stressing the need for tight security because of terrorist threats, the Los Angeles Times reported.The two leaders met privately Dec. 3 and discussed steps they both could take to help speed commercial traffic across the border and to aid Mexican farm workers in crossing the border without lengthy delays at the border.
Davis said that while his top priority is security, he stressed that business does go on and crops must still be harvested, the Times said.
Since Sept. 11, there have been delays at many border crossings because of more intense security at checkpoints. Transport Topics
USPS Says Thousands of Letters May Have Anthrax Traces
The U.S. Postal Service thinks thousands of letters may have been cross-contaminated with trace amounts of anthrax spores, the New York Times reported Dec. 4.Such cross-contamination is now the leading theory in the deaths of a New York City hospital worker and an elderly Connecticut woman, the paper said.
Despite the possible contamination, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said there does not appear to be a widespread threat to public health.
As a result, the USPS is exploring whether its already stretched resources should be directed towards the irradiation of mail, or if another agency would be better suited to the task, the Washington Post said.
Since the service went out and purchased irradiating equipment for mail, it has found the process time consuming, costly and possibly damaging to certain types of parcels. Transport Topics
Ashcroft Announces Counterrorism Deal With Canada
Attorney General John Ashcroft said Dec. 3 that the United States and Canada have agreed on a plan designed to keep terrorists out of both countries while speeding the flow of vital trade goods, the Associated Press reported.The program includes expanding integrated border enforcement teams, adding Canadian officials to the U.S. foreign terrorist tracking task force and tightening the visa entry process.
The addition of National Guard members and military helicopters at the border should also help to improve security and speed the flow of trade, AP reported.
The National Guard also will supply intelligence analysis and training, threat assessments and additional personnel, the Justice Department said. Transport Topics
Indiana Conducts Surprise Truck Checks
Indiana state and local law enforcement agencies made a series of random tractor-trailer searches in the Indianapolis area on Dec. 2, WTRV reported on its Web site.The inspection occurred in truck stops, and although terrorism was the main focus, police screened trucks and their drivers for all sorts of violations.
Indiana State Police 1st Sgt. Dave Bursten said more random inspections will decrease the chances of an attack by tractor-trailer. Transport Topics
IBA Begins Sanitizing Truckloads of Mail
Ion Beam Application said Nov. 29 that at least 10 trailers of mail have been sanitized successfully using X-rays and electron beams during its first week of operations at a New Jersey facility.John Gilbert, director of operations for IBA North America, said that the company is processing one truckload of mail every 3.5 hours. IBA plans to increase its staff to 30 from 24 at its facility in Bridgeport, N.J., to cope with the increased volume of mail.
Employees are currently sanitizing mail around the clock, and the facility is expected to process twice as much mail once the staff is expanded. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
House Approves Insurance Plan
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 227-193 on Nov. 29, in a proceeding televised on C-Span, in favor of a Republican plan to aid insurance companies in the event of another catastrophic terrorist attack.The legislation would commit the federal government to loan insurance companies enough to cover 90% of the property and casualty claims from another major attack. A provision inserted by House Republicans would restrict the ability of individuals to seek further damages in court.
A similar measure has been held up in the Senate over issues concerning payouts to victims as well as by a jurisdictional dispute between the Senate banking and commerce committees, Reuters reported. Transport Topics
Radiation Could Damage Some Mail
To limit the threat of anthrax, the U.S. Postal Service is planning widespread use of radiation, which could damage prescription drugs, medical test kits, film and other products sent by mail, USA Today reported last week.Officials now are trying to figure out the best way to safely separate mail that could be harmed by radiation.
While the Postal Service says it can protect mail by exempting packages sent by known mailers such as prescription drug services, the question about what to do with mail from unknown sources remains, the article said. Transport Topics
